Treatment for GBM may begin with surgically removing as much of the tumor as possible, while protecting surrounding healthy cells. Our specialists use sophisticated imaging techniques to map the brain to improve the safety and success of surgery.

Stanford neurosurgeons use various surgical approaches for safe and effective operations. The two most common approaches are:

• Computer-assisted brain surgery: Using CT and MRI scans, we create a 3D model of the brain. During surgery, these images provide the tumor’s precise location, aiding surgeons in removing cancerous cells while preserving brain function.
• Awake brain surgery: Your surgical team starts the operation while you are sedated, with a local anesthetic for your scalp. The team then allows you to wake up so we can test various functions by asking you to perform tasks such as speaking and moving. Your responses help the surgeon remove as much of the tumor as possible, while protecting functions such as vision, speech, movement, and coordination.

You may receive radiation therapy after surgery to destroy remaining cancer cells. If you’re not a candidate for surgery, radiation therapy may be your primary treatment. Our advanced radiation therapies include:

• 3D conformal radiation therapy: With this treatment, doctors precisely shape and deliver high-energy X-ray beams to the glioblastoma. The technology allows us to target the tumor while minimizing radiation to surrounding healthy tissue.
• Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT): This type of 3D radiation therapy targets the tumor from multiple angles and adjusts the strength of radiation to the tumor’s size and density.
• Stereotactic radiosurgery: We use leading-edge robotic systems, including the LINAC and CyberKnife, to precisely deliver high doses of radiation to cancer cells, while protecting healthy tissues.

Your doctor may prescribe drug therapy to treat glioblastoma. You can receive drug therapy by mouth as a pill or through a blood vessel as an injection or infusion. We use powerful, leading-edge drug therapies including:

• Chemotherapy: These medications destroy cancer cells or slow or stop their growth. You may receive chemotherapy alone or in combination with surgery to treat glioblastoma.
• Targeted therapy: These medications are designed to target certain features, such as proteins, on cancer cells to block their growth. Some tumor cells have proteins that cause cancer to grow quickly and spread. Our pathologists look for the presence of these proteins by examining samples of tissue taken during a biopsy.

Your doctor may recommend medications to manage your glioblastoma symptoms, increase your comfort, and enhance your quality of life. For example, you may take:

• Anticonvulsants to reduce pain and seizures
• Steroid medications to minimize brain swelling 

Some types of cancer have specific genetic markers that might respond to certain anticancer medications. We work to decode the genetic blueprint of the cancer to determine which medications may be right for you.

Depending on your specific case, you may be eligible for a clinical trial evaluating these new medications. Our extensive range of clinical trials offers the opportunity to receive promising new treatment options before they become widely available.